Male contraceptives are attracting growing interest from scientists, who believe they hold promise for being safe, effective and, also important, reversible.
“We have a number of irons in the fire,” said Diana L. Blithe, program director for contraceptive development for the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. “I think men actually do want to do this.”

Hello! Who cares what men want. It’s their turn, honey. Sorry, is my resentment showing.

With further reading, I’m starting to gather that the reason progress on male contraceptives has been slow glacial, is, namely, lack of confidence that men will actually use them.

In the works is something that utilizes hormones, progestin and testosterone, to interfere with sperm production. Another method, a potential male pill, works to interrupt sperm maturation. Another potential drug may disable sperm mobility.

Another method, “reversal of sperm under guidance,” almost made me feel a bit sorry for men for having to put their bodies through the stress. It involves injecting gel into the scrotum. Yet another heats up the testes with ultrasound.

Making sure these methods are reversible is a chief concern.

Then, the piéce de résistance, comes a potion that stops men from ejaculating altogether. Now this is getting a bit cruel, no?

The list goes on and on. The science, research, and chemistry behind it all is mind boggling. It almost reads like science fiction.

I never dreamed, way back when I was a naive young woman, just how many years I would spend living in fear of pregnancy. I mean, honestly. It just goes on, and on and on. And now, in my forties with an extremely fertile, aging-but-still-vasectomy-shy husband, it still goes on and on and on. And I’m, frankly, bloody sick of it. Not that any of these male contraceptive methods would stop my worry completely. But it would sure be nice to be relieved from the burden after all this time.

Would your man go for any of these new potential birth control methods? Are you sick of donating your body to science in the name of birth control?

Recent posts

Ugh…yeah. Finally just ended up getting the Essure implant to be done with it all. Easy, permanent, covered by insurance, and so far, absolutely zero side effects. Done and done.

John

It would probably make the man more feminine. It would certainly make a man less potent. I would never (willingly take this or endorse such an idea).

Jessica Keating

I have either been taking birth control pills, tracking my cycle hoping to get pregnant, or been pregnant/nursing for 16 years. By the time I am done having kids (if all goes as planned) it will have been “my” problem 20 years. I already told my husband that after dealing with it so long, and having (hopefully) 4 kids, it is his turn. I meant a vasectomy, but if there were another viable option he could choose that instead. Either way, not my problem anymore

Isa

My husband is very willing to have the big V. But it didn’t work for his father (twice!!!) and so I’m kind of scared.
But I’m tired of sticking hormones in my body! I’ve had enough.

And I’m pretty sure they have been working on this for a LOOOONG time. I keep hearing mumblings every few years but it seems they just haven’t found something that works. When I consider how many sperm men can produce compared to how a woman typically only releases one egg a month I can see how they might have problems developing this.

Rita

If you’re in a committed, long-term relationship (e.g. marriage), then it would be nice for the man to deal with contraception for once. Especially since I’ve had so many unpleasant side effects with the MANY birth control methods I’ve tried. (Luckily my IUD has been great.)

If, however, you’re in a dating situation, then a male pill would be more for the man’s ease of mind. If I was a woman in a new relationship, I would never trust a man to take adequate steps to prevent a pregnancy. If I was a man, I probably wouldn’t trust the woman either. I’ve personally known women who either lied about being pregnant to keep a man, or they “accidentally” got pregnant (on purpose) to keep the man. So if a man wants to avoid this happening, then a male pill would be great for that purpose. But in the end, I think everyone needs to take responsibility for their own reproduction.

Drew & Era’s mom

When I think about male birth control I think about all of the reasons mentioned by previous posters but mostly about young men getting ‘trapped’ by women who think getting pregnant will help them ‘keep’ the man. Granted the best solution would be to not have sex but that tends to not be the one that comes to mind when they are in the moment:)And women certainly aren’t alone in manipulating reltationships…plenty of guys do too. This isn’t a judgement, just an example situation.

Though they don’t get much credit, there are plenty of guys out there who would take responsibility for preventing pregnancy if those options were available. While there are always still good ‘ol condoms, a vasectomy is a major life decision and when you think about it, these are the only two viable options for sexually active men. I think its equally important for guys to have options regarding birth control, after all they have a stake in the outcome.

celeste

I think that its about time they came up with a pill for men. I know my husband wouldn’t take it, but to be honest, it would give men a lot more control over whether or not they have a baby. And that is great!

Sara

If proven effective, mine would, just to escape condom usage. My libido disappears on the pill (I’ve tried a number of them, and the patch, and the ring…), so, while effective, it just isn’t a very fun method for me. I doubt he’d have the same issues. =) Of course, I’ll probably be ready for a tubal by the time this gets developed and tested.

bashysarah

@ John–gmafb!!!! I think you’re a troll I’ve avoided answering before. Of course, you do explain so nicely why the men’s contracteptives have been so slowly developed. Men’s fear of loss of power disgusts me.
And yeah, Betsy, I agree that its about damn time the men had to worry about it all, too. I personally went for the tubal after two kids, after spending 10 years pre-kids on the pill. Thank god it worked for me. I know a couple who has three kids from three different failed b/c methods over the course of 14 years. That shit is scary.

Isa

I agree with the other posters that say that it would be great for men to take their fertility in their own hands.
Especially single men that don’t want children or don’t want them with their current partner.

Danny

I dont see why everyone is up in arms about this. Men should want to help their partner. Plus if both are on the pill there should be no chance of pregnancy. My wife told me about it and im stoked. After 6 years and 2 kids she is done and I am too. I hate condoms she hates condoms. So we dont use em. I want more results and maybe test this thing myself. Have the mrs take notes to make sure nothing weird is going on with me. Again men should want this as much if not more then women. Whether he is in a long term relationship or jumping around. No heating the testes or anything getting near my scrotum except tiolet paper. But again its both of the parners respomsibility not jus the ladies and not just the men, it takes two to tango.

shannon rs

Thank you danny! I just asked my hubby and he got giggly, he does that when he is nervous. I believe that it is both of our jobs to keep the kid number down. Why do I have to worry about if my shot worked, our if it is going to last the correct amount if time. If he doesn’t want to use a condom then he should be able to take other preventive measures.

Danny’s Momma

I think it’s a fantastic idea. And like someone mentioned above, it would help out with the men who claim they were “trapped” by a pregnancy. Well guy, if YOU were taking your pills…

Too bad this is coming so late, my hubby already had a vasectomy.

http://agirlcalledshroom.blogspot.com/ Pennie

I’ve ALWAYS wondered why. Why is it the contraception falls to the women? Pills and injections and intrauterine implants? They all carry risk and sometimes harm, and I always say that whatever new method of birth control is out sounds great until somebody’s vagina falls out. How many types of birth control have been advertised in the last ten years? It’s mind boggling. And why is it so hard to find a non-invasive non-hormonal birth control? All I wanted was a freaking diaphragm, and nobody prescribes them anymore and in the middle of trying to find and pay for a diaphragm fitting kit ON MY OWN I conceived my son. Am I happy to be having a baby soon? Yes. Am I terrified to have a 1 year old and a newborn? YES.

So, yeah, GET THEM ON THE CONTRACEPTION BANDWAGON ALREADY. And here I was thinking it simply wasn’t possible for a man to use contraception. -_-

Momof4

I say why not… Not that I am in fear of anything… I got fixed on my way out the door with my last one…. 😀

Jen

It’s just practical and numbers to use birth control on women, not men. I understand that allure of having the guy have to deal with all the stuff we go through, but I would rather trust something to stop one (maybe two) eggs once a month over something to stop millions of sperm everytime a man ejaculates! I just don’t know that I would feel comfortable depending on male birth control, it seems to risky! That being said, when my husband and I are done having kids, he has already agreed that he will be getting the vasectomy rather than having my tubes tied! Just the cost and recovery time alone seems worth it considering what I have put my body through on the pill, pregnant and in labor.

Heather

There really should be a birth control pill for men. Why is it that women have to take the pill, have an IUD inserted, or stick various other things up our crotches to prevent pregnancy when the only thing out there for men are pills to enhance erections? Not fair. Come on scientists I’m pulling for you!

Kathy Kats

Uhm yeah!

http://www.monogrammedeverything.com www.monogrammedeverything.com

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!

Damon

Dans the man! John Were do u get that it would make a man more feminine? I would definitly take it until my wife and I are ready to go for another one!

Kay

Danny and Damon are responsible and considerate men, really this is long overdue.Its takes 2 to tango indeed and would be nice to have shared responsibility just as we do in all other areas of life as couples. I dont see why men cant take the pill too if its going to be effective to relieve the woman of tones of hormones that have been put into her body.

Joshua

If they would just come out with a buffalo wings and nachos that were contraceptives, NO MAN would complain about taking them.

In all seriousness, my wife and I will be having twins in September and I do want to, as Isa said, take my fertility into my own hands (something I have been doing since junior high school)once the kids are born. My wife has done enough on her end in that department to last a lifetime and I agree it is my turn. It was my wife who researched and pointed that vasectomies have been linked to early onset of dementia in men. Whether that is fact or just a spurious correlation I have no idea. I am still willing to go the surgical route, but my own father’s dimwittedness in his older years could be proof that the correlation my wife speaks of is true.

A pill would be just fine by me and whether or not it was reversable would be less important since we are finished having kids. For the neandertal earlier who instinctively feels that such a pill would be emasculating or femenizing, shame on you. First of all, A real man partners with his woman to get through life together in a give and take. If that in your mind is femenizing, so be it. If you were referring to hormonal side effects, these are exactly what women have been dealing with. Are we exempt from subjecting ourselves to such things in the name of family planning? I think not.

Time to get off my soap box. I will look for the birth control buffalo wings and beer at my local grocer. Have a great day everyone.

http://www.numbmum.com/ Betsy Shaw

@Joshua, and all the male commenters: Your perspectives are truly valued here. Thanks.

KnowledgeIsPower

In my opinion it is not a good idea to give men birth control pills for the simple fact that if both parties have the option to take it and one party is or says they are taking it then the number of sexually active people that have or have had an STD will most likely increase. I feel like less people will use condoms if they know that one or the other is taking some form of birth control. Despite knowing that oral contraceptives do not prevent STDs I believe more and more people will stop using condoms. Just a thought.

Wendy

Thank you Joshua, Danny, and Damon! It’s wonderful when both partners are ready to assume responsibility for a desired outcome. I had not personally heard of a link b/w a v and dementia, but will def look into it since my hubs has agreed to get one in a few months!

Jim

Great for some guys but not for me. Women complain about mood swings loss of libido and any number of other side effects of hormone-based pills. I’m not going to start taking the female hormone progestin and then wait to see what side effects there are. If the female hormone progestin stops the normal effects of testosterone in regards to sperm production, it only goes to reason that it will interfere with the other effects of testoterone.

I’m sure some women would like this for their men: low sperm production, once a week or once a month libido, and having a good cry but it’s not for me…

Rebecca

Jim (& other men who posted about side effects women already experience on birth control),
WHAT gives you the attitude that women should continue to endure the suffering end of what is already a male-dominated society. (No need for brash replies, it’s a fact, just count up the number of men who have to endure monthly periods, pregnancies, the permanent after-effects of pregnancy, labor, delivery, nursing, etc.) What a selfish comment to make, that you’ve already seen what women have to endure on the pill (or other birth control), so “no thanks,” it’s “not for you”? Well, I hope you either get a vasectomy REAL soon, or that women do NOT take the responsibility at ANY higher level than you, for birth control & pregnancy prevention. With that kind of attitude from women, you would probably be less likely to sleep with a woman. WOMEN- maybe we should all have Jim’s attitude, “no thanks,” WE don’t want to deal with the side effects of such pills and things anymore, so… if THEY don’t want to end up with a baby, they either DO something about it, or quit having sex (because WE aren’t going to suffer with these side effects anymore). We don’t like lost libidos, we don’t like crying and hormonal ups and downs, we don’t like feeling bloated, we don’t like to have to “remember” to take pills, we don’t like having to be the sole responsibility for something that is TWO people’s responsibility, and we SURE don’t like being blamed if “our” birth control fails (while we were the ONLY one doing anything about it in the first place). I do, however, agree with “knowledgeispower” above- the more pills that are offered, the higher the possibility that people will forget that this ONLY prevents pregnancy, not STD’s, and that’s a very sobering fact. STDs are spreading like wildfire, with (I believe) the statistics for herpes being like 1 in 4 adults, and the statistics for HPV being like 1 in 3 (?), which seems very high. Any more risks taken, and it seems that the only non-infected people left will be monogamous married couples, or celibate people. Seriously.. that is scary. But, birth control- it should DEFINITELY fall to both people, but certainly men more than women, since women endure all the other “inconveniences,” pain, and lasting effects of/regarding reproduction.

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